Sulphur Springs

Just west of New Market is the small, rural community of Sulphur Springs. Life moves a little slower around here. Sunny afternoons are spent at the nearby swimming hole, while cool autumn days bring locals to the pumpkin patch. Residents enjoy the quiet serenity of living off the beaten path, while being just a quick drive to all the city conveniences of Huntsville. You’re also next to the Alabama-Tennessee border, making weekend getaway in the neighboring state a breeze.

Much of this neighborhood is made up of Craftsman-style new constructions, many with paved driveways and attached garages. You’ll also find older ranch-style homes, many built in the 1960s. Home prices in the area range from $80,000 to $1.16 million. Children in the neighborhood attend Lynn Fanning Elementary School, home of the Panthers. The school has an overall Niche rating of A, with an ACE Gifted Program, speech therapy and board-certified teachers. Moores Mill Intermediate School follows close behind with an A-minus Niche rating. The school was recognized as an International Model Professional Learning Community School. Teenagers attend Buckhorn High School, which opened its doors in 1958. The school also has an A-minus Niche rating and has been recognized as a United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Distinction and a Lighthouse Blue Ribbon School. Much of the school’s faculty hold advanced degrees and are National Board Certified educators.

Residents of Sulphur Springs enjoy access to the forested Sharon Johnston Park. Its stone and cedar fences are echoes of the area’s early settlement and pioneering history. Local anglers can fish for catfish, brim, crappie and bass in the park’s stocked 12-acre lake. An Olympic-size swimming pool provides an escape from hot Alabama afternoons. Children can take swimming lessons at the pool and even participate in the Sharon Johnston Swim Team. There’s also a playground for youngsters to enjoy. Community celebrations can be held at the park’s picnic shelters and large pavilions with open-air barbeque grills. Soccer fields, a 5K running track and a shooting range are all available at the park. Flint River flows through the area, and many locals enjoy fishing, kayaking or canoeing along its waters. The river flows into Hump Creek Swimming Hole, a beloved hidden gem. People of all ages enjoy a dip in the swimming hole’s clear waters, with many bringing their canine companions along. Hitching up a hammock and reading a good novel along the water is another popular option.

Once you dry off, you can make your way over to 1910 Gin. Established in the late 1800s, this iconic venue was lovingly coined “Hump” by locals, as it rested between two humps in the road, separated by the river. Witness Alabama’s aviation history firsthand at the facility which displays the Quick Airplane. William Quick was working on his flying machine in 1900, around the same time as the Wright Brothers, though he was unaware of his competition. The Wright Brothers were the first to get their kite up in the air in 1903, and Quick became Alabama’s first aviator in 1908 when his monoplane took flight. While the Wright Brothers got their design airborne faster, Quick’s monoplane was superior and forged the way for the single-wing planes of today. Visitors can see the original aircraft that revolutionized aviation. You can also see some of the area’s old cotton gin history, with Quick’s Mill, one of Alabama’s first cotton gins sitting by the venue. Within it, a vintage 1920s diesel engine remains.

Within 1916 Gin is MoonPie John’s Mercantile, a general store. The store didn’t always go by this name—it was dedicated to a beloved community leader. John Houston Taylor II started his career as an entrepreneur when he was just a young boy delivering groceries on his bike. It was at the little country store that he met the love of his life, Ruth. Everyone in the community knew John. He’d hand peppermints out to kids just to make them smile. He’d visit neighbors who were sick or hospitalized and give them a MoonPie to ease their suffering. He considered it his calling to help bring his community joy. When John passed away at 96, he left a legacy of generosity and kindness. The old general store where he met was renamed in his honor, and aims to continue this legacy. The store has its own long history, built in 1899. Locals would come by horse and buggy to deliver cotton to the gin and buy corn meal from the store. The store’s front porch was the spot for catching up with neighbors and more than a little bit of gossip. Today, the store offers unique gifts, vintage candy, fresh coffee, ice cream, soda pops and lunch at the attached Full of Baloney Café.

Off the beaten path, Sulpher Springs is a hidden gem of a community, rich in history and even richer in heart. With beautiful green spaces, access to Flint River and just minutes from Huntsville, this Hazel Green neighborhood is a great place to call home.

Written By

Rebecca Frankel

Photography Contributed By

Tommy Daspit

Video By

Melinda Anselmo